WHEREAS, Governor James E. McGreevey issued Executive
Order No. 11 on March 4, 2002, for the purpose of
declaring a state of water emergency throughout New Jersey
due to an accumulated precipitation shortfall dating back
to 1998, along with significantly depleted surface and
ground water levels, including unprecedented low stream
flows across the State; and
WHEREAS, Administrative
Order No. 2002-05, as amended and supplemented or
superseded by Administrative Order Nos. 2002-07, 2002-14, 2002-15, 2002-17, 2002-18, 2002-20, 2002-21, 2002-23 and 2002-25, imposed
Phase I - Mandatory Restrictions, as set forth at N.J.A.C.
7:19-13 et seq., on water users throughout the State;
and
WHEREAS, coordinated water management measures exercised
by water suppliers, citizens, businesses, institutions,
municipalities, counties, and the State, including water
conservation efforts and voluntary and mandatory water
use restrictions, effectively curtailed water use demands
and allowed for the preservation of available supplies
during the critical summer months; and
WHEREAS, abundant precipitation since mid-September 2002
has contributed significantly to eradication of the protracted
statewide precipitation deficit, substantial restoration
of stream flows and ground water levels throughout much
of the State, and replenishment of water supply storage
in critical New Jersey reservoirs; and
WHEREAS, Administrative
Order No. 2002-25 rescinded Administrative
Order Nos. 2002-23, effectively lifting the Phase
I - Mandatory Restrictions in the Northwest, Northeast
and Central Drought Regions, but continued such Mandatory
Restrictions in the Southwest, Coastal North and Coastal
South Drought Regions; and
WHEREAS, surface water reservoirs recover relatively
quickly in response to more normalized precipitation,
while substantially depleted groundwater supplies may
take years to be replenished following successive drought
episodes; and
WHEREAS, by Executive Order No. 44, signed on this date,
January 8, 2003, Governor James E. McGreevey has terminated
the state of water emergency throughout New Jersey based
upon substantially improved climatic and water supply
conditions, while underscoring the need for continued
vigilance to achieve stabilization of available water
supplies through efficient management and prudent use
of the resource, in addition to "continuing voluntary
water conservation practices"; and
WHEREAS, Governor McGreevey's Executive Order No. 44 directs me to continue to scrutinize applications for
development in the Atlantic County Townships of Egg Harbor,
Galloway and Hamilton "to ensure that new development
and new water connections can be supported by the water
supply on a sustained yield basis; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's Executive Order No. 44 also directs
me to coordinate with the Pinelands Commission Chairman
and members as well as affected mayors in developing strategies
for growth management in the three Atlantic County Townships
and other Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan designated
growth areas; and
WHEREAS, as part of the Governor's overall charge to
me in Executive Order No. 44 to strengthen protection
of New Jersey's water supply on a short and long-term
basis so as "to reduce the frequency and severity
of drought emergencies" in the State, it is appropriate
and necessary to continue to impose a reduced level of
water use management through implementation of the Department's
non-emergency "Drought Warning" authority;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bradley M. Campbell, Commissioner,
pursuant to the authority vested in me by Executive Order No. 44, and by the Water Supply Management Act, N.J.S.A.
58:1A-1 et seq., and its supporting regulations, hereby
adopt the following Order, which shall supersede Administrative
Order Nos. 2002-25 and 2002-27:
- In order to carry out Governor McGreevey's Executive Order No. 44 calling for continued vigilance
to protect the water supplies of the State, I designate
the Coastal South and the Southwest Drought Regions
to be in a "Drought Warning" condition.
- I hereby direct and encourage all citizens,
businesses and governmental entities to use water wisely
and conservatively in order to preserve and protect
New Jersey's water resources so an adequate water supply
is available to support our citizens' quality of life
and to sustain smart growth throughout the State.
- Pursuant to Executive Order No. 44, I hereby
order and direct that all Department permitting programs
exercise applicable statutory and regulatory authority
to ensure that new development and new water supply
connections in the Atlantic County Townships of Egg
Harbor, Galloway and Hamilton can be supported on a
sustained basis.
- I order and direct that the terms and conditions
of all water allocation permits, water registrations
and water connection permits issued by the Department
be strictly enforced.
- I further direct that the appropriate Department
programs and staff provide expertise and support to
efforts by the Pinelands Commission to develop short-term
and long-term strategies to address growth management
needs in the Pinelands.
- Nothing in this Order shall be construed
to supersede or modify any water use restrictions imposed
by a municipality, county or applicable water supplier.
- This Order shall take effect immediately.
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